Time-fractional diffusion of distributed order

The partial differential equation of Gaussian diffusion is generalized by using the time-fractional derivative of distributed order between 0 and 1, in both the Riemann-Liouville (R-L) and the Caputo (C) sense. For a general distribution of time orders we provide the fundamental solution, that is still a probability density, in terms of an integral of Laplace type. The kernel depends on the type of the assumed fractional derivative except for the single order case where the two approaches turn to be equivalent. We consider with some detail two cases of order distribution: the double-order and the uniformly distributed order. For these cases we exhibit plots of the corresponding fundamental solutions and their variance, pointing out the remarkable difference between the two approaches for small and large times.Comment: 30 pages, 4 figures. International Workshop on Fractional Differentiation and its Applications (FDA06), 19-21 July 2006, Porto, Portugal. Journal of Vibration and Control, in press (2007

Continuous time random walk, Mittag-Leffler waiting time and fractional diffusion: mathematical aspects

We show the asymptotic long-time equivalence of a generic power law waiting time distribution to the Mittag-Leffler waiting time distribution, characteristic for a time fractional CTRW. This asymptotic equivalence is effected by a combination of "rescaling" time and "respeeding" the relevant renewal process followed by a passage to a limit for which we need a suitable relation between the parameters of rescaling and respeeding. Turning our attention to spatially 1-D CTRWs with a generic power law jump distribution, "rescaling" space can be interpreted as a second kind of "respeeding" which then, again under a proper relation between the relevant parameters leads in the limit to the space-time fractional diffusion equation. Finally, we treat the `time fractional drift" process as a properly scaled limit of the counting number of a Mittag-Leffler renewal process.Comment: 36 pages, 3 figures (5 files eps). Invited lecture by R. Gorenflo at the 373. WE-Heraeus-Seminar on Anomalous Transport: Experimental Results and Theoretical Challenges, Physikzentrum Bad-Honnef (Germany), 12-16 July 2006; Chairmen: R. Klages, G. Radons and I.M. Sokolo

The M-Wright function in time-fractional diffusion processes: a tutorial survey

In the present review we survey the properties of a transcendental function of the Wright type, nowadays known as M-Wright function, entering as a probability density in a relevant class of self-similar stochastic processes that we generally refer to as time-fractional diffusion processes. Indeed, the master equations governing these processes generalize the standard diffusion equation by means of time-integral operators interpreted as derivatives of fractional order. When these generalized diffusion processes are properly characterized with stationary increments, the M-Wright function is shown to play the same key role as the Gaussian density in the standard and fractional Brownian motions. Furthermore, these processes provide stochastic models suitable for describing phenomena of anomalous diffusion of both slow and fast type.Comment: 32 pages, 3 figure

Revisiting the derivation of the fractional diffusion equation

The fractional diffusion equation is derived from the master equation of continuous-time random walks (CTRWs) via a straightforward application of the Gnedenko-Kolmogorov limit theorem. The Cauchy problem for the fractional diffusion equation is solved in various important and general cases. The meaning of the proper diffusion limit for CTRWs is discussed.Comment: Paper presented at the International Workshop on Scaling and Disordered Systems, Paris, France, 13-14 April 200

Finite Domain Anomalous Spreading Consistent with First and Second Law

After reviewing the problematic behavior of some previously suggested finite interval spatial operators of the symmetric Riesz type, we create a wish list leading toward a new spatial operator suitable to use in the space-time fractional differential equation of anomalous diffusion when the transport of material is strictly restricted to a bounded domain. Based on recent studies of wall effects, we introduce a new definition of the spatial operator and illustrate its favorable characteristics. We provide two numerical methods to solve the modified space-time fractional differential equation and show particular results illustrating compliance to our established list of requirements, most important to the conservation principle and the second law of thermodynamics.Comment: 14 figure

Fractional calculus modelling for unsteady unidirectional flow of incompressible fluids with time-dependent viscosity

In this note we analyze a model for a unidirectional unsteady flow of a viscous incompressible fluid with time dependent viscosity. A possible way to take into account such behaviour is to introduce a memory formalism, including thus the time dependent viscosity by using an integro-differential term and therefore generalizing the classical equation of a Newtonian viscous fluid. A possible useful choice, in this framework, is to use a rheology based on stress/strain relation generalized by fractional calculus modelling. This is a model that can be used in applied problems, taking into account a power law time variability of the viscosity coefficient. We find analytic solutions of initial value problems in an unbounded and bounded domain. Furthermore, we discuss the explicit solution in a meaningful particular case

Fractional diffusions with time-varying coefficients

This paper is concerned with the fractionalized diffusion equations governing the law of the fractional Brownian motion $B_H(t)$. We obtain solutions of these equations which are probability laws extending that of $B_H(t)$. Our analysis is based on McBride fractional operators generalizing the hyper-Bessel operators $L$ and converting their fractional power $L^{\alpha}$ into Erd\'elyi--Kober fractional integrals. We study also probabilistic properties of the r.v.'s whose distributions satisfy space-time fractional equations involving Caputo and Riesz fractional derivatives. Some results emerging from the analysis of fractional equations with time-varying coefficients have the form of distributions of time-changed r.v.'s

Uncoupled continuous-time random walks: Solution and limiting behavior of the master equation

A detailed study is presented for a large class of uncoupled continuous-time random walks (CTRWs). The master equation is solved for the Mittag-Leffler survival probability. The properly scaled diffusive limit of the master equation is taken and its relation with the fractional diffusion equation is discussed. Finally, some common objections found in the literature are thoroughly reviewed.Comment: Preprint version of an already published paper. 8 page